HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY 2010
I organized a party to celebrate the birthdays of several of my friends who are turning 60 this year. It was held at the Liz McIntyre's holiday home in Westlake near Isaiah Tubbs resort and Sandbanks Provincial Park in Prince Edward County south of Belleville.The invitation read as follows: You are invited to a WOMEN’S WEEKEND AWAY to the home of Liz McIntyre Krompcamp in Wellington, Prince Edward County.
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When I realized that so many of my old friends were turning 60 this year I decided to organize a party to celebrate our friendship over the years. My sister Gaye, so sadly taken from us, would also have been turning 60 this year so I would like to do this in her memory too. I have also included a few friends who turned 60 before me!!! Many of you know each other .
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This is certainly a milestone in our lives. When I turned 60 myself last year I realized how grateful I was to just be on this side of the grass!! I hope you can make it as we party on, play bridge, watch movies, eat out, munch, drink wine, reminisce and laugh together.
Date: Friday, April 30th to Sunday May 2nd, 2010
We could not have had a more wonderful weekend.
The ladies arrived............................................................................................................................
On a Friday night coming from Ottawa, Tweed, Brockville, Toronto and Elmira bringing food, libation, bedding, memorabilia and a zest for comraderie and adventure. I did not arrive until 11:00 pm at which time Liz gave me a tour of her place and I sorted people into various bedrooms, working around each other's snores, personalities and disabilities!!!
The sun smiled.................................................................................................................................
Nature was bountiful. It was unseasonably warm and sunny. The lake was glassy and gorgeous. We were awakened with shrieks of laughter coming from the deck by the lake where early birds had gathered in their PJ's to share stories and watch the sun rise. Breakfast was served outside at the picnic tables complete with champagne orange juice, fruit Costco quiche and delicious coffee from Liz's yuppie machine.
The scenery was fantastic..................................................................................................................
We set off cross country to several beach places of interest. The closest beach was surrounded by Sand Dunes and we waded into the water. Then we stopped at a place I'd not seen before, where years ago there had been a lodge that was destroyed by fire. The shorelines there were rocky and the trees cragged. Outlet beach was next and it was strange being there this early in the year. The snow fence was still strung across the beach and those of us who were not nursing bodily injuries and aged bones had a zesty walk along the beach. It was strange to find it covered in zebra muscles.
The flowers bloomed............................................................................................................................
The rest of the afternoon was spent leisurely on the deck by the water visiting, playing bridge, looking at old photos, laughing and sharing stories from years gone by. Our green thumb ladies, Joanne and Liz headed off to do some work in the gorgeous flower gardens. Of interest was the two trees that had died at the front. Liz and John have had a local artist carve them into two imposing figures. Everyone who comes gets to pick names for them to add to the list of suggestions........ you can imagine......
The birds chirped..................................................................................................................................
Birdsong arose with the sun. Literally, the setting on Westlake was pretty as a picture book. The house is nestled amongst some huge evergreen's and enhanced by tiered gardens. There are craggy trees at the waterfront and civilized lawns. We were surrounded by beauty as the birds flitted around, thrilling us with their joyful sounds of spring..... and since this was so early in the season, there was naught a mosquito to be found.
The meal was scrumptious.................................................................................................................
We ate in style round an elegant table with a lovely centrepiece made from fresh cut daffodils. Joanne treated us to steak and chicken deliciously sauced and BBQ'd as well as a type of scalloped potatoes. Janet brought salads and Gail brought some home made baked beans and a delicious gluten free cake complete with a 60th candle as we blew it out and sang happy birthday to ourselves.
The bridge was fun...............................................................................................................................
Imagine, we were all bridge players even though a few were somewhat rusty. Well it was fun but it wasn't about the bridge. It was hard to keep the chatter down enough to concentrate on the cards.... and some of us had imbibbed too much. I won't mention any names!!!
The home and hospitality was supercalifragilisticexpealidocious ...........................................
Liz was a most generous hostess. She promptly told us where everything was and after making us our first cup of coffee, left us to our own devices to make shift in her modern and fully equipped kitchen!!! We enjoyed the fireplace both evenings and sat in comfy furniture and slept in comfy beds. The art work on the walls and rustic home with huge windows facing the lake made us feel quite pampered in this wonderful home away from home. We invaded but also cleaned up our messes and the group gave Liz a stained glass window that I had made for the occasion. It was kind of a unique surprise as Liz had conferred with me about having a window made for her newly renovated bathroom in her Toronto home, over a year ago but never got around to ordering it. I was very happy to discover that I had accidentally chosen just the right colours and she was very pleased!!!
The memories were haunting and humourous .............................................................................
Some of us knew each other from high school but had not seen each other for years. Several of us had lived together in Toronto on Garnock Ave. in a party abode in our early twenties. What wonderful memories we had from those experiences. Of course none of us had aged or put on any weight over the years and we were all still virgins!!! Why we even had a wee visit from Mary Jane.... you may find her in one of the photos where we're looking at old albums. And yep, someone couldn't handle her and had to go lie down.
The laughter ensued and the healing began ..................................................................................
I was so uplifted to see how well all my friends got along with each other inspite of being a very diverse group. We shared our joys and sorrows, relaxed and just let it all hang out. It was interesting to see the differing paths of our lives and yet somehow we all have gotten to this point, damaged but uplifted, wiser and just damned glad to still be here. Where will we be in another 10 years? Will we get back together for another reunion? Liz has invited us back. She always was a bit sardonic!!! er should I say sarcastic!! It was a happy, healing, peaceful weekend, a precious gift for us all that is now a treasured memory.
On a Friday night coming from Ottawa, Tweed, Brockville, Toronto and Elmira bringing food, libation, bedding, memorabilia and a zest for comraderie and adventure. I did not arrive until 11:00 pm at which time Liz gave me a tour of her place and I sorted people into various bedrooms, working around each other's snores, personalities and disabilities!!!
 |  |
The sun smiled.................................................................................................................................
Nature was bountiful. It was unseasonably warm and sunny. The lake was glassy and gorgeous. We were awakened with shrieks of laughter coming from the deck by the lake where early birds had gathered in their PJ's to share stories and watch the sun rise. Breakfast was served outside at the picnic tables complete with champagne orange juice, fruit Costco quiche and delicious coffee from Liz's yuppie machine.
 |  |
The scenery was fantastic..................................................................................................................
We set off cross country to several beach places of interest. The closest beach was surrounded by Sand Dunes and we waded into the water. Then we stopped at a place I'd not seen before, where years ago there had been a lodge that was destroyed by fire. The shorelines there were rocky and the trees cragged. Outlet beach was next and it was strange being there this early in the year. The snow fence was still strung across the beach and those of us who were not nursing bodily injuries and aged bones had a zesty walk along the beach. It was strange to find it covered in zebra muscles.
 |  |
The flowers bloomed............................................................................................................................
The rest of the afternoon was spent leisurely on the deck by the water visiting, playing bridge, looking at old photos, laughing and sharing stories from years gone by. Our green thumb ladies, Joanne and Liz headed off to do some work in the gorgeous flower gardens. Of interest was the two trees that had died at the front. Liz and John have had a local artist carve them into two imposing figures. Everyone who comes gets to pick names for them to add to the list of suggestions........ you can imagine......
 |  |
The birds chirped..................................................................................................................................
Birdsong arose with the sun. Literally, the setting on Westlake was pretty as a picture book. The house is nestled amongst some huge evergreen's and enhanced by tiered gardens. There are craggy trees at the waterfront and civilized lawns. We were surrounded by beauty as the birds flitted around, thrilling us with their joyful sounds of spring..... and since this was so early in the season, there was naught a mosquito to be found.
 |  |
The meal was scrumptious.................................................................................................................
We ate in style round an elegant table with a lovely centrepiece made from fresh cut daffodils. Joanne treated us to steak and chicken deliciously sauced and BBQ'd as well as a type of scalloped potatoes. Janet brought salads and Gail brought some home made baked beans and a delicious gluten free cake complete with a 60th candle as we blew it out and sang happy birthday to ourselves.
 |  |
The bridge was fun...............................................................................................................................
Imagine, we were all bridge players even though a few were somewhat rusty. Well it was fun but it wasn't about the bridge. It was hard to keep the chatter down enough to concentrate on the cards.... and some of us had imbibbed too much. I won't mention any names!!!
The home and hospitality was supercalifragilisticexpealidocious ...........................................
Liz was a most generous hostess. She promptly told us where everything was and after making us our first cup of coffee, left us to our own devices to make shift in her modern and fully equipped kitchen!!! We enjoyed the fireplace both evenings and sat in comfy furniture and slept in comfy beds. The art work on the walls and rustic home with huge windows facing the lake made us feel quite pampered in this wonderful home away from home. We invaded but also cleaned up our messes and the group gave Liz a stained glass window that I had made for the occasion. It was kind of a unique surprise as Liz had conferred with me about having a window made for her newly renovated bathroom in her Toronto home, over a year ago but never got around to ordering it. I was very happy to discover that I had accidentally chosen just the right colours and she was very pleased!!!
 |  |
The memories were haunting and humourous .............................................................................
Some of us knew each other from high school but had not seen each other for years. Several of us had lived together in Toronto on Garnock Ave. in a party abode in our early twenties. What wonderful memories we had from those experiences. Of course none of us had aged or put on any weight over the years and we were all still virgins!!! Why we even had a wee visit from Mary Jane.... you may find her in one of the photos where we're looking at old albums. And yep, someone couldn't handle her and had to go lie down.
 |  |
The laughter ensued and the healing began ..................................................................................
I was so uplifted to see how well all my friends got along with each other inspite of being a very diverse group. We shared our joys and sorrows, relaxed and just let it all hang out. It was interesting to see the differing paths of our lives and yet somehow we all have gotten to this point, damaged but uplifted, wiser and just damned glad to still be here. Where will we be in another 10 years? Will we get back together for another reunion? Liz has invited us back. She always was a bit sardonic!!! er should I say sarcastic!! It was a happy, healing, peaceful weekend, a precious gift for us all that is now a treasured memory.
These are some of the wonderful girls in my circle:
Nanci, Liz, Janet, Gail, Marilyn, Cathie, Joanne, Marie, Inez
GIRLS IN MY CIRCLE
When I was little,
I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,
And then I started to become a woman.
And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
God would show you the best in many friends.
One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man. Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom. Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities. Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be. One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,'
Another , 'Let's fight together,'
Another , 'Let's walk away together.'
One friend will meet your spiritual need,
Another your shoe fetish,
Another your love for movies,
Another will be with you in your season of confusion,
Another will be your clarifier,
Another the wind beneath your wings.
But whatever their assignment in your life,
On whatever the occasion,
On whatever the day,
Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back, Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself .
Those are your best friends.
It may all be wrapped up in one woman,
But for many, it's wrapped up in several.
One from 7th grade,
One from high school,
Several from the college years,
A couple from old jobs,
On some days your mother,
On some days your neighbor,
On others, your sisters,
And on some days, your daughters.
You are the women who have come into my life
To make a difference. No greater gift there be.
One from high school,
Several from the college years,
A couple from old jobs,
On some days your mother,
On some days your neighbor,
On others, your sisters,
And on some days, your daughters.
You are the women who have come into my life
To make a difference. No greater gift there be.
